Bill O'Reilly: Man or Superman?

William James O'Reilly Jr, the famed Fox News Reporter, is he just a man, or is he a superman? This of course is a reference to Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophy and not a DC Comics superhero.

Ask anybody, they will probably all agree that he is just a man, well, other than Bill of course. Ask him and he's sure to tell you he is the embodiment of Übermensch (Superman). He might even go so far to say he is a super powered hero of the people, but that's just speculation.

Bill O'Reilly has one of the most successful news shows on television. Unlike many of his Fox News associates, he enjoys a wide array of guests on his show from all walks of life and political backgrounds. He even lets them talk sometimes.

I'm not here to bash on Bill, I'm actually a fan. Even though most of the time I think he's a loud mouth who can't fathom the possibility of someone other than him speaking, he has one of the only shows that I will watch consistently. That's because Bill O'Reilly has one very important thing going for him. Unfortunately it's also his biggest downfall.

Bill O'Reilly is usually right.

Why is this a downfall you ask? Because he knows it. You can tell by the look in his face as he is asking someone a question, as if he is just waiting for you to get your dumb answer out of the way so he can tell you the right one.

I believe the term is pompous.

Still, I like his program. It's one of the few news programs that aren't afraid to take on both sides of the political spectrum. Unlike any of his competitors, Bill O'Reilly really does seem to have “no spin.” Other programs, even on Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC, all cater to a specific demographic, and refuse to step out of their respective political bounds.

Bill O’Reilly did not always earn $20 Million a year, surprisingly; he came from a very modest working class background. He got his start in journalism in college writing for the school paper, but he got his broadcasting debut in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Over the course of the next several years, he worked for many stations, and won many awards. O’Reilly’s big break came in 1980 when he was hired by CBS, and was given the opportunity to cover South American conflicts. In 1986 he made the move to ABC where he was a reporter and delivered daytime briefings on stories to be revealed on evening news programs. Bill O’Reilly received true notoriety hosting Inside Edition, a current affairs program that covers everything from hard news investigations to Hollywood gossip. He left after 6 years and attended Harvard University, eventually receiving a master’s in public administration.

Bill O'Reilly has been host of the Fox News program The O'Reilly Factor since its inception in 1996. Since then it has been named the most watched cable new television show. Although the show has had its share of controversy, it doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.

So, is Bill the perfect embodiment of humanity and the goal for which all men should strive? Short answer: No, but in my opinion he is the embodiment of the American Dream. He didn’t exactly come from a meager background, but he wasn’t spoon fed. Bill O’Reilly has worked hard for everything he has, and has climbed the latter from a “nobody journalist” to one of the most recognizable faces in the world of reporting the news. I don’t aspire to be him, but it couldn't hurt to take a few pages out his book either. Bill O'Reilly has no BS attitude that has done him wonders over the past years, he is almost always right, and he gets to interrupt congressmen on a daily basis. If you ask me, those are some pretty “Good” qualities; I just don't think they're “Super” qualities.